Copyright by Vinh Tan Nguyen 2021 The Dissertation Committee for Vinh Tan Nguyen certifies that this is the approved version of the following Dissertation: Social Cognitive Career Theory & The Career Development of Southeast Asian American College Students Committee: Richard Reddick, Supervisor Madeline Maxwell Victor Saenz Edwin Sharpe ii Social Cognitive Career Theory & The Career Development of Southeast Asian American College Students by Vinh Tan Nguyen Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Texas at Austin May 2021 iii Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my mother and father who showed by example the meaning of resiliency and of love for family and who always found a way for their children to earn an education even when it meant having one less dollar to pay for utilities or to put food on the table. And, I dedicate this study to my wife and daughters, Aidinh and Dao, who happily laughed and lived with and without me during my dissertation journey and whose future were constantly on my mind as I conducted my research. iv Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge my dissertation committee members who individually and as a group provided me with support, guidance, and care throughout my academic journey both inside and outside of the classroom and committee meetings. They maintained their smiles even though the journey was a long, long one for all of us. Thank you for walking and running by my side all of this time. i Abstract Social Cognitive Theory & The Career Development of Southeast Asian American College Students Vinh Tan Nguyen, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin, 2021 Supervisor: Richard Reddick Southeast Asian American (SEAA) (Cambodia American, Hmong American, Laotian American, Vietnamese American) college students have historically been neglected by higher education researchers, policymakers, and practioners. This has contributed to their marginalization misrepresentation in higher education as well as to them being underserved and underrepresented by higher education institutions. This study uses social cognitive career theory (SCCT) as the theoretical framework for examining the impact of the model minority myth and of social cognitive factors (e.g., parents, family, peers, institutional agents) on the career development phenomenon of SEAA. This study is significant because it adds to the dearth of literature on Asian American career development in general and SEAA in particular. It is also significant because it is one of the few studies that employs a qualitative approach to studying the career development of SEAA through the SCCT framework. ii Table of Contents List of Tables ix List of Figures x Chapter 1: Context of the Study 1 Introduction 1 Historical Context of Southeast Asians in American 1 Southeast Asian American (SEAA) College Students 4 Asian American (AA) College Students 4 AA Population Growth 5 SEAA Population Growth 6 AA and SEAA College Student Career Development 6 Statement of the Problem 7 Purpose of Study 8 Research Questions 9 Theoretical Framework 9 Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) 9 SCCT & Studies on Minority, Disadvantaged and Marginalized Peoples 10 Significance of Study 11 Extension of the Literature on SEAA & Their Career Development 11 Inclusion of SEAA in Higher Education Policies, Research, & Practices 12 Expanding the Research on SCCT, SEAA, & Qualitative Research 13 Method Methodology 14 Delimitations, Assumptions, and Limitations 15 Delimitations 15 Limitations 16 Assumptions 17 Definitions 18 Chapter Summary 20 Chapter 2: Literature Review 21 Introduction 21 Literature Search Process 21 Career Development Exigency in American Higher Education 22 Career Development & AA College Student 24 Asians, Asian Americans, and Southeast Asian Americans—Who Are They? 25 “Asians” 25 Chinese migration 26 Japanese migration 26 Korean migration 27 Asian Indian migration 27 Filipino migration 28 Asian American Population 28 “Asian” or “Asian alone” and U.S. Census 30 “Asian Americans” 33 “Southeast Asian Americans” 35 iii French Colonialism and Consequences in Southeast Asia 35 Wars in French Indochina 37 First Indochina War 37 Second Indochina War: “Vietnam War” 38 In Vietnam 38 In Laos 38 In Cambodia 39 Third Indochina War 41 Southeast Asian Migration 42 Involuntary Immigrants 43 SEAA Immigration Patterns 43 First Wave (1975) 44 Second Wave (1976-1985) 45 Third Wave (1986-1999) 45 Recent Arrivals 45 Resettlement Patters 46 SEAA Resettlement Patterns & Consequences 48 Educational Attainment 49 Economic Earnings 53 Poverty Statistics 55 Unemployment Data 56 Employment Fields 58 Data Disaggregation 62 SEAA College Students & Career Development Influences 63 Familial 65 On Career Interest & Choice 66 On Career Performance 68 Parental 70 On Career Interest & Choice 72 Filial Piety & Financial Stability 73 Collectivism 76 On Career Performance 80 Peers 83 On Career Interest, Choice, & Performance 84 Institutional Agents 86 On Career Interest 87 On Career Choice 87 On Career Performance 87 Search for Theoretical Framework 88 Holland’s Theory of Vocational Personalities in Work Environment 89 Holland’s Tenets 89 Critiques of Holland’s Theory 89 Super’s Self-concept Theory of Career Development 91 Super’s Tenets 91 Critiques of Super’s Theory 92 iv Social Cognitive Career Theory 93 SCCT’s Tenets 93 Critiques of SCCT 94 Selection of Theoretical Framework 95 Social Cognitive Career Theory 97 Principles of SCCT 97 Self-Efficacy 98 Outcome Expectations 98 Goal Representations 98 Interlocking Models in SCCT 99 Career Interest Development Model (CID) 99 Career Choice Model (CCM) 100 Career Performance Model (CPM) 100 Model Minority Myth & SEAA Career Development 102 Anatomy of a Myth 102 MMM Definition 102 Origin & Evolution of Model Minority Myth 103 1940s 103 1960s 104 1980s 105 Powerful Politicians 105 Mass Media Establishment 106 Present Day 106 Model Minority Myth & SEAA 108 MMM & SEAA Career Development 108 Career Choice & Interest 109 Career Performance 110 Chapter Summary 111 Chapter 3: Methodology & Procedures 112 Introduction 112 Theoretical Perspective 112 Phenomenology 113 Transcendental 113 Existential 114 Epistemology: Constructionism 116 Research Method: A Qualitative Study 117 Research Methodology: Phenomenological Interviewing 118 Seidman’s Phenomenological Approach 119 Modification of Seidman’s Three-Interview Series 119 Reflexivity Journal 120 Population, Sample, Recruitment, and Size 122 Population, Sample, & Size 122 Recruitment 124 Size 125 Data Collection Procedures 126 v Pre-Interview 126 Interview 126 Post Interview 127 Data Collection Instruments 127 Electronic Apps 128 Manual Tools 128 Data Analysis 129 Validity, Reliability, & Trustworthiness 130 Sensitivity to Context 131 Commitment & Rigor 131 Transparency & Coherence 132 Impact & Importance 132 Member Checking, Researcher Bias Mindfulness, & Journaling 132 Reflexively Positionality & Bias of Researcher 133 Chapter Summary 137 Chapter 4: Participant Vignettes—In Their Own Words 138 Appa 139 Career Interest 140 Career Choice 141 Career Performance 144 Amber 145 Career Interest 145 Career Choice 147 Career Performance 147 Dr Pepper 148 Career Interest 149 Career Choice 150 Career Performance 150 Chaco 151 Career Interest 152 Career Choice 153 Career Performance 154 Ling 154 Career Interest 154 Career Choice 155 Career Performance 156 Avatar 157 Career Interest 157 Career Choice 159 Career Performance 159 Chopper 159 Career Interest 160 Career Choice 160 Career Performance 160 vi J 161 Career Interest 161 Career Choice 163 Career Performance 163 Chapter Summary 165 Chapter 5: Analysis & Findings—Research Question 1 166 Participants in the Study 166 Overview of Participants 167 Cambodian American Participants 174 Hmong American Participants 175 Laotian American Participants 175 Vietnamese American Participants 175 What role (if any) do your parents play in your past, present, and career 176 development? Choice of Careers 180 Elder Refugee Stories 180 Love for Parents 185 Career Choice Consonance & Dissonance 186 Closeted Career Interest & Career Choice 187 Mental Health & Career Performance 189 Summary of Parental Influences 194 “What role (if any) do your family members (nuclear or extended) play in your 195 past, present, and career development?” Parents-Family/Family-Parents 199 Multigenerational Household/Neighborhood 199 Multigenerational Reinforcement 200 Intergenerational Trauma 201 Gender in Traditional, Multigenerational Household 203 Family Representation Is Community Representation 207 Pride as Representation 208 Face As Representation 215 Summary of Familial Influences 216 “What role (if any) do your peers play in your past, present, and career 217 development?” Friends More Than Family 219 Peers Filled Family Void 220 Summary of Peer Influences 225 “What role (if any) do institutional agents play in your past, present, and career 226 development?” Institutional Agents as Liabilities 229 Institutional Agents as Assets 230 Summary of Institutional Agent Influences 234 Chapter Summary 234 Chapter 6: Analysis & Findings—Research Question 2 236 vii Category I: Racism Conscious, MMM Conscious, No Negative Effects on CD of 239 SEAA, Negative Effect on CD of People of Color MMM & Aggregated Asian American Data 243 Category II: Racism Conscious, MMM Conscious, Negative Effects on CD of 247 SEAA, Negative Effect People of Color Category III: Racism